‘I don’t want you to go out tonight,’ he says.

‘But we’ve been through this, baby.’

‘Just stay in with me, Mum. Just this once. Please.’

‘Oh baby, I haven’t been out in ages and since your father left . . .’

‘Is he coming back?’

‘Not bloody likely!’

‘Why not?’

‘You know why, Jord. You’ve seen what he does. Besides, he’s with that tramp Lauren now and she’s welcome to him.’

Jordan hugs his knees and stares blankly at the television. Elaine strokes his hair and notices some dry chocolate on his chin.

‘It’s not about Dad,’ says Jordan.

‘What’s it about then, darlin’?’

‘I don’t want you seeing that man tonight.’

Elaine gives a nervous laugh. ‘Oh baby, I don’t know what’s got into you. I’m only going to dinner with an old friend.’

Jordan’s face darkens.

‘You don’t even know him!’ he says, his voice rising suddenly. ‘You won’t even tell me his name! You know nothing about him!’

‘That’s not true.’

‘Yes, it is!’

‘We knew each other at school.’

‘No, you didn’t. You told him you didn’t remember him.’

Elaine flushes. ‘How’d you know that?’

Jordan folds his arms and looks away, his face like thunder.

‘You’ve been on my phone, again, Jordan Kelly. What have I told you about that?’

Like his father, Jordan begins mimicking her voice. ‘Ben Peters . . . oh you’re so handsome. Oh, I think I do remember you . . .’

‘Stop it, Jordan!’

‘And what about those pictures? They are so fake. I bet he’s a fat old man with smelly armpits and horrible breath and he’s just going to use you for sex.’

‘Jordan Kelly! Stop it right now!’

She hears her phone ping from the kitchen.

‘That’ll be Jackie. Get your bag ready, mister. We will talk about this later!’

She swipes open the message.

Babes, I’m so sorry.

I’ve come down with something horrible. Had a sleep and thought I might feel better but feel worse. The girls are unwell too. So sorry to let you down. Is there someone else you could leave Jord with?

‘Shit!’ says Elaine, biting down on a blue painted thumbnail. What can she do? She doesn’t have much to do with her neighbours – because of Frank they have always kept their distance. There is just no way she can dump Jordan on them. She tries to think and comes to realise she is short on options. In fact, she has no options. There is only one thing she can do. She’ll have to cancel. At least that will placate Jordan.

Her phone pings a second time. It’s a message from her date, Ben.

She sighs.

Hi, gorgeous. The Uber is on its way. Should be with you in five minutes.

She types a return message.